Ecological products from Moldova to be easier exported to EU

Chisinau, 14 November /MOLDPRES/ - The certificates issued for agro-food products will be recognized on the European market and the ecological production will be easier exported to EU. The cabinet today approved a draft law on the ecological agro-food production and labeling of ecological products. The new provisions will contribute to a good work of the domestic market, ensuring loyal competition and enhancing the citizens’ confidence in the goods labeled as ecological, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.     

The document provides for the recognizing of Moldova’s certification authorities internationally – these changes will allow producers exporting the products with the mention “ecological” to EU. At the same time, the international certification organizations accredited by EU will no longer be obliged to be re-accredited in Moldova too. This fact will allow producers to access subsidies, even if they certify their production at international authorities. So far, only the producers appealing to national authorities have benefited from subsidies.       

The draft establishes the norms applicable to the ecological production – thus, the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO), fertilizers for soil and other contra-indicated products in the eco agriculture is not allowed. The products labeled as ecological will contain at least 95 bio ingredients. To grow such products, farmers will use only seeds by organic ways and subsequently the eco products will be preserved separately from non-ecological ones.     

At the same time, the law establishes a system of supervision in the agriculture sector and sets the powers of the competent authorities. To ensure a more rigorous control, the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) is included in the certification process. Also, the law establishes a single model for the certificates due to be issued to producers – so far, each authority has been releasing certificates of different formats.   

Ecological products are obtained without genetic interventions and use of chemical substances. At present, 136 companies specialized in the cultivation of ecological products work in Moldova. In 2017, about 52,000 tons of ecologically certified products were exported to EU.